Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Two Guys Against Poverty plan ride across America

Your Newsweekly contributor
Published 4:19 p.m. ET Feb. 2, 2017

Jake Piper (left) and the Rev. Scott Alexander are currently training to ride more than 3,400 miles to benefit United Against Poverty’s Success Training for Employment Program this spring. To make donations, visit UPIRC.org or call 772-770-0740.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED BY DAN LAMSON)

VERO BEACH — United Against Poverty recently announced that the Rev. Scott Alexander and Jake Piper are currently undergoing training to prepare for their upcoming ride across America to raise awareness and funds to support the organization’s Success Training for Employment Program (STEP).

Both Alexander and Piper, who are championing the “Two Guys Against Poverty” ride, will bear more than $12,000 in costs to be part of the cross-country trek. The “two guys” also extend an invitation to the community to become part of the movement by making a charitable donation that will benefit the nonprofit organization’s STEP workforce development program.

“It’s our hope that contributions from the community will support training and mentoring for at least 20 STEP participants in 2017,” explained Alexander. “Although this ride is an endurance test of our ability to overcome the challenges we face while we are on the road, it does not compare to the challenges that many people in poverty face in their daily lives. Through the community’s support for STEP, they can learn the skills they need to get a job, keep it and reach economic self-sufficiency.”

In 2016, STEP provided job acquisition, workforce and emotional intelligence skills training for 100 people who found jobs at more than 60 local employers with an annualized wage impact of $2.4 million. STEP participants are also provided job coaching throughout employment until they reach economic self-sufficiency (more than 200 percent federal poverty guidelines.) There are currently 144 STEP participants who are receiving job coaching.

The cyclists’ will dip their wheels into the Pacific Ocean as they begin their adventure on April 22, in Costa Mesa, California, and following 3,400 miles on the road, they’ll dip their wheels in the Atlantic Ocean on May 25 in Amesbury, Massachusetts. A celebration “Splash Party” is planned for May 30, at 5 p.m. at Waldo’s Restaurant in Vero Beach.

This ride is the first for Piper and the fifth for Alexander to benefit charity. Alexander has raised more than $90,000 for United Against Poverty on two cross-country treks. The 2017 ride goal is $50,000.

In 2016, STEP was supported through private contributions, family foundations and the support of John’s Island Community Service League, Bank of America Foundation, Grand Harbor Community Outreach, Indian River Club Outreach Foundation, Impact 100 of Indian River County and the Educational Foundation of America.

Two upcoming training rides are planned for Feb. 11 and March 11 and area cyclists are invited to join in. Information will be posted on UPIRC.org one week prior to each ride. Additionally, a “Blessing of the Bikes” will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Vero Beach on April 10. Visit UPIRC.org or call 772-770-0740 for event and donation information.

Vero Beach natives Austin and Ginny Hunt founded United Against Poverty (formerly Harvest Food & Outreach Center), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in 2003. The UP Center in Indian River County serves 600 people a day through workforce development, life skills education, crisis navigation, case management and subsidized grocery programs.

Read or Share this story: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/specialty-publications/your-news/indian-river-county/reader-submitted/2017/02/02/two-guys-against-poverty-plan-ride-across-america-support-step/97412278/